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It was supposed to all be fixed, tied in a neat little bow like a fairy tale. But even here in Ever After that didn’t seem to be it. Everyone was fine except Apple, who was getting held back by Raven.
“Hey Darling.” Apple says, smirking over at them as Raven looks pleadingly down at the book in their hand.
“Need any help?” Darling offers, watching as Raven looks ready to jump at the offer.
“Do you actually mean that?” Darling nodding but isn’t really sure what response they were gonna get.
“Yes.”
“Can you, uh, watch Apple while I’m working on helping her, she’s already almost exploded a few house plants.” Raven asks, that pleading look still in their eyes, Darling smiling and nodding in agreement, Raven letting out a sigh of relief before turning back towards Apple who smiles at Darling , moving towards Darling’s side. Raven noticing Apple slip her arm around Darlings and took that as a good sign, or as good as a sign as any for her to start working on that cure.
“Already taking me back to your room? That’s not very princess like of you.” Apple walking in like she owned the place, making her way to Darling’s bed.
“Apple!” Yelping a bit at the implication “Don’t make it seem like that.” Going back to what they were doing which was ordering sweets from Ginger, not like they could really leave the room for who knows how long.
“Never said I was against it Darling, just expected a date first, your brother was a bit too much of a coward to really be of any help.” Smirking over at Darling as they wait for a response, pushing themselves to sit up.
“While you were trying to kill everyone? Plus, you don’t mean that.” Awaiting Ginger now as Apple looks all too comfy.
“Why wouldn’t I?” Apple’s smirk still plastered on her face, although now she’s taking a look around at the little decorations they had in their dorm, a few photos on the wall and a calendar filled with a plethora of animal photos.
“You know why.” Ginger knocking at the door only 3 minutes later, breaking the wave of silence that had washed over them. Darling jumping up from their chair to get to the door, Apple following behind as they open the door halfway to get a good enough view of Ginger and the bag in front with the cupcakes. Apple’s head leaning on Darling’s shoulder to get a better view of Ginger, her hand resting on Darling’s middle, waiting for some form of reaction. Ginger’s eyes bulge as she processes what was happening in front of her, handing over the bag and grabbing the money as quickly as they can so they could go back to ignoring Apple for a bit until it was safe. “Thank you Ginger, I’ll see you later.” They nod, going down the hallway.
Apple using her free hand to grab a cupcake, eating it in three bites as Darling sets the bag down, grabbing one for themself. Apple moving back to her spot on Darling’s bed, patting the spot beside her to lure them over which they did eventually do so after finishing another cupcake. “You didn’t have to stay away and stare, it was weird.” Groaning as she said it like Darlings whole list of decisions they’d made today were the dumbest things they’d ever heard of.
“It’s weird you haven’t gone back to normal.” Slipping their phone out as they get a text from Raven saying they were still looking for information.
“I’d say I’m new and improved.” Taking another look around “now, can we leave this room? There’s nothing to do aside from you-“
“APPLE.” Darling’s face flushing as the realization of what Apple said hit, Apple not really seeming to care all that much about their reaction, more so that they got cut off.
“Just joking, unless you want to.” Raven bursting through the door at that moment, falling backwards into a chair almost cartoonishly. Darling overly aware of Evil Apple sitting right beside her as Raven explains she’ll have to keep watch on Apple a little longer but they have their lead. “I miss when it was just us.” Saying it barely loud enough that Raven could hear but seemingly ignored.
“Only about an hour until I can work something else out.” Raven grumbled, staring at Apple as if that’d help her somehow. Darling nodding as Raven checks her phone before running off. So, Darling started a movie in hopes it would quell Apple from almost jumping out the window. Apple’s eyes continuing to glance over at it but she stayed close to darling’s side.
“Apple.” Evil Apple looking confused at the statement, her head snapping towards them.
“Darling.” Apple not having to be all that loud as she wasn’t even a foot away from Darling’s face “what? Let me guess, you’re gonna say ‘shut up or I’m gonna make you’ I’d love to see what you do then.”
“That’s not even remotely close to what I was gonna say.” Darling now trying to fix their thoughts “How long are you going to continue to joke about liking me?”
“Ugh, I’m not joking, would’ve thought you’d picked up on that.” Placing their hands on either side of Darling’s face and pulling them into a kiss, a bright glow happens as Apple pulls away.
“Oh my Grimm, I’m sorry.” Apple’s demeanor shifting back slightly into what was normal for her, although looking slightly disparaged.
“Are you back to normal?”
“Yes?”
“Which means that was probably.” Not knowing quite how to go about it.
“True loves kiss, yeah.”
“Ravens going to have a field day with this.” Darling sighs as Apple falls back into the pillows, hoping that’d be a working solution. Darling only texting Raven that Apple was back to normal. “So, uh, should we forget about this or?”
“Why would we do that?” Apple looking taken aback by the idea of doing that “not just because of true love.”
“Okay, cool.” Darling unsure of how they should respond to that but Apple smiled at them as Raven burst through the door again, looking much more relieved since the last time they saw her.
“Hi.” Apple waving at her roommate from her position on the bed, not knowing how to go about this. “I’m sorry?” Was all they could get out as Raven only stared.
“So, how’d you go back to normal?” Looking between them as they glance at each other “wait.” Smiling and laughing “at least we got that part figured out.” Brushing off her knees and looking over at the door “so my jobs finished.” Wandering away again.
“Back to the movie?” Darling nods as Apple moves closer to get a better view. “This wasn’t much of a first date.” Apple jokes, watching as the color drains from Darling’s face.
“So what do you expect from our next date?” Darling unsure on how to respond aside from saying that, hoping it didn’t sound too stupid.
“Surprise me.” Apple leaving, surprisingly content with who was her true love. Maybe it was just the fact everything had happened the past few days and the shock would hit them later, Darling didn’t really mind all that much, just trying to think of a second date idea.